19 Starters from ’03 Title Team on NFL Rosters

BATON ROUGE — With 13 members from the 2005 LSU football team on NFL rosters heading into training camp later this summer, the Tigers now have 19 players who started in the 2003 BCS National Championship game against Oklahoma playing professional football.

The Tigers, who captured the 2003 BCS National Championship with their 21-14 win over the Sooners, can also claim 12 graduates among their starting lineup from that game. LSU finished the 2003 season with a 13-1 mark.

Nine starters from both the offense and defensive units are in the NFL, while the punter (Donnie Jones) is also playing professional football. Four players who started in the national championship game in 2003 are still on the LSU roster heading into the 2006 season — running back Justin Vincent, free safety LaRon Landry, punter/placekicker Chris Jackson and placekicker Ryan Gaudet.

LSU’s defensive front, which consisted of defensive ends in Marcus Spears and Marquise Hill, along with defensive tackles Kyle Williams and Chad Lavalais, were all drafted by NFL clubs. Spears was a first round pick by the Cowboys, Hill a second round selection by the Patriots, Lavalais a fifth round pick by the Falcons and Williams a fifth rounder by the Bills.

The Tiger skill positions were also coveted by the NFL as three starting receivers, the starting quarterback and a backup running back have all been drafted by NFL franchises. Michael Clayton, a two-year starter now for Tampa Bay, was the 15th player taken in the 2004 NFL Draft.

Devery Henderson was a second round pick for the Saints, while Skyler Green was most recently selected by the Cowboys. Matt Mauck, who is currently a backup quarterback for the Titans, was selected in the seventh round of the 2004 draft by Denver.

Joseph Addai, who had only two carries in the win over the Sooners, was recently selected in the first round with the 30th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts becoming the third first rounder from that squad.

The following is a look at LSU’s starting lineup against Oklahoma in the 2003 BCS National Championship game and where those players are today:

Offense

Pos.

Player

Current Team

How Acquired

Devery Henderson

NFL — Saints

2nd round – 2004

Andrew Whitworth

NFL — Bengals

2nd round – 2006